1.
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
1, 2. if—The condition extends
through both verses.
be surety—art pledged.
stricken . . . hand—bargained
(compare Job 17:3).
with a stranger—that
is, for a friend (compare Proverbs 11:15;
Proverbs 17:18).
2.
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3.
Do this now, my son, deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
3. come . . . friend—in his
power.
humble . . . sure thy
friend—urge as a suppliant; that is, induce the friend to
provide otherwise for his debt, or secure the surety.
4.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
4, 5. The danger requires
promptness.
5.
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6.
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
6-8. The improvident sluggards
usually want sureties. Hence, such are advised to industry by the
ant's example.
7.
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8.
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9.
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
9, 10. Their conduct graphically
described;
10.
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11.
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
11. and the fruits of their
self-indulgence and indolence presented.
as . . .
travelleth—literally, "one who walks backwards and
forwards," that is, a highwayman.
armed man—that is, one
prepared to destroy.
12.
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
12. A naughty person—literally,
"A man of Belial," or of worthlessness, that is, for good,
and so depraved, or wicked (compare 1 Samuel 25:25;
1 Samuel 30:22, &c.). Idleness and
vice are allied. Though indolent in acts, he actively and habitually
(walketh) is ill-natured in speech (1 Samuel 30:22).
13.
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
13, 14. If, for fear of
detection, he does not speak, he uses signs to carry on his
intrigues. These signs are still so used in the East.
14.
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
14. Frowardness—as in .
deviseth—literally,
"constructs, as an artisan."
mischief—evil to
others.
discord—especially
litigation. Cunning is the talent of the weak and lazy.
15.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
15. Suddenness aggravates
evil (compare Proverbs 6:11; Proverbs 29:1).
calamity—literally, "a
crushing weight."
broken—shivered as a
potter's vessel; utterly destroyed (Proverbs 29:1).
16.
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
16-19. six . . . seven—a mode
of speaking to arrest attention (Proverbs 30:15;
Proverbs 30:18; Job 5:19).
17.
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
17. proud look—literally,
"eyes of loftiness" (). Eyes, tongue, &c., for persons.
18.
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
16-19. six . . . seven—a mode
of speaking to arrest attention (Proverbs 30:15;
Proverbs 30:18; Job 5:19).
19.
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
19. speaketh—literally,
"breathes out," habitually speaks (Psalms 27:12;
Acts 9:1).
20.
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
20-23. (Compare Proverbs 1:8;
Proverbs 3:3, &c.).
21.
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22.
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
22. it—(compare ); denotes the instruction of parents (), to which all the qualities of a safe guide and guard and
ready teacher are ascribed. It prevents the ingress of evil by
supplying good thoughts, even in dreams (Proverbs 3:21-23;
Psalms 19:9; 2 Peter 1:19).
23.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
23. reproofs— () the convictions of error produced by instruction.
24.
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
24. A specimen of its benefit.
By appreciating truth, men are not affected by lying flattery.
25.
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
25. One of the cautions of this
instruction, avoid alluring beauty.
take—or, "ensnare."
eyelids—By painting the
lashes, women enhanced beauty.
26.
For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
26. The supplied words give a
better sense than the old version: "The price of a whore is a
piece of bread."
adulteress—(Compare
Margin), which the parallel and context () sustain. Of similar results of this sin, compare .
will hunt—alluding to
the snares spread by harlots (compare ).
precious life—more
valuable than all else.
27.
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
27-29. The guilt and danger most
obvious.
28.
Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
29.
So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
30.
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
30, 31. Such a thief is pitied,
though heavily punished.
31.
But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
31. sevenfold—(compare ), for many, ample (compare Genesis 4:24;
Matthew 18:21), even if all his
wealth is taken.
32.
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
32. lacketh understanding—or,
"heart"; destitute of moral principle and prudence.
33.
A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
33. dishonour—or, "shame,"
as well as hurt of body (Proverbs 3:35).
reproach . . . away—No
restitution will suffice;
34.
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
34, 35. nor any terms of
reconciliation be admitted.
regard—or, "accept"
any ransom.
35.
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.